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  • Its Official....I Am Getting Old

    US Army's last tanks depart from Germany - Stripes - Independent U.S. military news from Iraq, Afghanistan and bases worldwide

    US Army's last tanks depart from Germany


    German railway loadmasters with the Theater Logistics Support Center Europe help load an Abrams main battle tank at the railhead in Kaisersalutern. The tank was one of 22 bound for South Carolina, marking the end of an Army tank presence in Germany.

    Alexander Burnett/U.S. Army

    ByJohn Vandiver
    Stars and Stripes

    Published: April 4, 2013

    Related
    For Baumholder’s 170th Brigade, a low-key goodbye
    Army's 172nd sorting, clearing gear as inactivation begins


    U.S. Army soldiers of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion 66th Armor Regiment, Task Force 1-2, 172nd Infantry Brigade conduct a live fire training exercise using M1 Abrams tanks at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany in this Oct. 2010 photo.

    Markus Rauchenberger/U.S. Army

    U.S. Army soldiers of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion 66th Armor Regiment, Task Force 1-2, 172nd Infantry Brigade conduct a live fire training exercise with M1 Abrams tanks at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany in this Oct. 2010 photo.

    Markus Rauchenberger/U.S. Army

    STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. Army’s 69-year history of basing main battle tanks on German soil quietly ended last month when 22 Abrams tanks, a main feature of armored combat units throughout the Cold War, embarked for the U.S.

    The departure of the last M-1 Abrams tanks coincides with the inactivation of two of the Army’s Germany-based heavy brigades. Last year, the 170th Infantry out of Baumholder disbanded. And the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade at Grafenwöhr is in the process of doing the same.

    On March 18, the remaining tanks were loaded up at the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s railhead in Kaiserslautern where they then made the journey to the shipping port in Bremerhaven, Germany. There they boarded a ship bound for South Carolina.

    The tanks belonged to the 172nd along with a mix that were leftover from other units, according to the 21st TSC.

    “It is an honor to be one of the soldiers escorting the last battle tanks out of Germany,” said Sgt. Jeremy Jordan of the 529th Military Police Company, in an Army story about the journey. “As these tanks sail back to the U.S., we are closing a chapter in history.”

    From World War II on through the Cold War, tanker units were a heavy presence in Germany. At its peak, Germany was home to 20 NATO armored divisions, or about 6,000 tanks, according to the 21st TSC.

    “There is no [U.S.] tank on German soil. It’s a historic moment,” said Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto, 21st TSC spokesman.



    Damn!

    I remember when the M1s FIRST got to to USAREUR. Reforger 1982 with the 3rd ACR out of FT Bliss. 3rd ID got them later that winter.
    “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
    Mark Twain

  • #2
    You are not getting old, you just have too much experience.
    No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

    To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

    Comment


    • #3
      He's old...and experienced. I can remember as a child in 1963 watching M-60s from Ft. Hood's 2nd Armored Division marching through Budingen. It was the initial precursor to what would eventually become the annual REFORGER exercises. My dad was a lifelong Cav and armor guy, eventually serving as the 3rd Bde. 3rd A.D. Asst. S-2. Those were heady days. We'd eventually have four heavy divisions and two heavy brigades (forward) along with two very bad-ass armored cav regiments in W. Germany. When adding in the pre-positioned stocks for REFORGER units I'd surmise we had over 2500 tanks on W. German soil.

      Quite the change from those days as a kid.
      "This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski
      "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Lester Bangs

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by S2 View Post
        He's old...and experienced. I can remember as a child in 1963 .
        Its official. Your both old. I got my first solicitation from AARP last month. And I was born in 1963

        Comment


        • #5
          I've mentioned before, I was in awe at the stockpile of weapons and supply in West Germany. NATO was definitely ready in the 1980's. Massive underground bunkers filled with endless racks of air to air missiles, external fuel tanks, spare parts, food, water, medical supplies, MOPP gear. Gigantic tanks full of diesel and jet fuel, and massive generators in hardened bunkers to power the whole thing. Those jennies could probably have run for a year or more.

          The facilities were top notch. Our underground command post was radiation and CW proof, and had bunks, kitchens, and supplies for a protracted operation under fire.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Doktor View Post
            you just have too much experience.
            After a certain age, weekend liberty on the Reeperbahn no longer counts as "Experience"

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Chogy View Post
              Massive underground bunkers filled with endless racks of air to air missiles, external fuel tanks, spare parts, food, water, medical supplies, MOPP gear.
              Pic: 20 miles from here. 250 ft out of 25 miles total in this facility. Under 500 ft of rock. Stocking 4 billion Euro worth of spare parts and weapons. Fully active.



              Originally posted by S2 View Post
              When adding in the pre-positioned stocks for REFORGER units I'd surmise we had over 2500 tanks on W. German soil.
              About 700-800 tanks in V and VII Corps each, another 800-900 with POMCUS units and forward-deployed brigades. For the second half of the 80s.
              The UK, France, Netherlands, Canada and Belgium probably came up to another 700-800, and Germany had about 4000 active and in reserve around that time, plus an extra 700-800 sitting around waiting for the scrapper.
              Attached Files
              Last edited by kato; 07 Apr 13,, 12:49.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                After a certain age, weekend liberty on the Reeperbahn no longer counts as "Experience"
                The only time i was on the Reeperbahn was back when I was 15, with two 16-year-old friends...

                Comment


                • #9
                  kato,

                  Linky no worky...:bang:
                  "This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski
                  "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Lester Bangs

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    We are all old farts sitting in the balcony on The Muppets.
                    “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                    Mark Twain

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Stratford and Waldorf.
                      No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

                      To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by S2 View Post
                        kato, Linky no worky...:bang:
                        Fixed i think.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          What are you youngsters mumbling about?

                          B: 1944

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Same thing as you. Why are nurses so pretty but so stupid.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Officer of Engineers View Post
                              Same thing as you. Why are nurses so pretty but so stupid.
                              Lucky buggers.

                              Here nurses are ugly, stupid and annoying. Same as stewardesses.

                              Almost forgot. Old, too.
                              No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

                              To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

                              Comment

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